Nephew pleads guilty, sentenced to life in prison for killing uncle

GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – A Lakewood man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing his uncle last year.

Tuesday afternoon, 38-year-old Kelly Raisley plead guilty to Murder in the First Degree after he confessed to shooting and killing his uncle, Randy Baker, in Baker’s home on August 16th, 2017.

Authorities believe Baker’s sister, Carol Baker, and his wife, Kelly Baker, helped construct the plot to kill Baker. They believe Raisley was paid between $10,000 and $13,000 and was given his uncle’s motorcycle for the murder.

Raisley was originally charged with:

COUNT 1: MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F1)
COUNT 2: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F2)
COUNT 3: SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F2)
COUNT 4: CRIME OF VIOLENCE

Raisley plead guilty to Count 1 Tuesday. Counts 2, 3 and 4 were dropped as part of a plea agreement.

With the original charges, he faced the death penalty if convicted. However, both parties agreed to a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for pleading guilty to Murder in the First Degree.

After entering his plea, Raisley was immediately sentenced by the court.

“Randy Baker’s murder was truly senseless,” Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller said to the court. “This defendant killed his uncle in cold blood in this man’s own home. Randy was always willing to help his nephew with whatever he needed, but the defendant rejected that and went a separate path. Instead, he was deceived into killing the one man that truly cared for and loved him.”

WHAT’S NEXT:

Carol Baker has a Disposition hearing scheduled for August 21 at 9:00 a.m. She’s charged with:

COUNT 1: MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F1)
COUNT 2: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F2)
COUNT 3: SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F2)
COUNT 4: CRIME OF VIOLENCE

Kelly Baker has an Arraignment hearing scheduled for June 12 at 11:00 a.m. She’s charged with:

COUNT 1: MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F1)
COUNT 2: CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F2)
COUNT 3: SOLICITATION TO COMMIT MURDER IN THE FIRST DEGREE (F2)
COUNT 4: CRIME OF VIOLENCE

Assistant District Attorney Robb Miller and Chief Deputy District Attorney Thea Carrasco are the lead prosecutors on these cases.